Page 12 of Highland Heat

The big thing we’d been putting off, because we had been too busy spending our time in bed, was the vegetable garden. At one point in time, it had been a priority for me, and I wanted to make it one again, which was why we were out here now, midday, despite the heat, both of us with a hoe in hand. We were weeding out the things we needed and the things we didn’t want. We already had a wheelbarrow full of weeds. Much less remained in the ground.

My vision for the garden was to provide delicious food to eat, and so far, it had provided weeds to compost. That was going to change.

“Maybe my cousins should just come here and eat the weeds,” Ewan said.

I smiled at that. “I thought you said they weren’t very good.”

“They aren’t, but they owe us. They get to enjoy the hay, they can suffer through some weeds.”

“I think they’d be more apt to trample over everything. We wouldn’t have any vegetables left.” As it was, our crop had probably taken a hit due to the overgrowth of weeds. “Composting it will be better.”

I slammed my hoe into the ground again, picking up the clump of weeds that I had chopped down and tossing them to the pile. I was shirtless and was due to put some sunscreen on.

Ewan was bent down inspecting one of the tomato plants. “We ought to come out here tonight with one of those flashlights, see if we can’t find any worms.”

“Any signs of them?” I hated those suckers. I didn’t mind shoveling shit, moving spiders, or any of the other “gross” tasks of the farm, but those worms were like aliens and a hard pass for me.

“A few. I’m not good at spotting them.”

“I’m decent at it,” I said. “I hate touching them, though.” Or seeing them. Or remembering they existed just as I was about to fall asleep.

“Are you kidding? That’s the fun part.” He laughed and then stood up.

“Another reason to add to the list of why you are the perfect mate for me. I don’t have to touch those worms ever again.”

I turned to look at him. Lucky I did, because just as he was standing up, his eyes rolled backward, and he floundered to one side. I rushed to him, catching him just before he hit the dirt.

“Ewan, Ewan! Are you all right?” I swung him into my arms and carried him to the shade. Thankfully, the hose was there, and I got a little bit of water on my hands and touched his face. He was warm but not overheated. His eyes fluttered open, and he stared up at me with a dazed look on his face.

“What happened?” he said, his voice weak.

“You passed out.” At least that was what I assumed happened.

“I did?” His eyes went wide. “How long was I out?”

“Just a few seconds.” Which was far too long. “Fuck. You scared me.”

“Oh shit,” he said.

“Is everything all right? Has this happened before?”

He shook his head. “No, but—”

“But what? Do I need to take you to the hospital?”

He shook his head. My mate was stubborn as a bull.

“We should take you to the doctor for sure. No arguments.”

He sat up so that he was cradled in my arms. We were both sweaty, dirt clinging to our skin. We’d been working hard all day. Maybe too hard. Had my mate overworked himself? Had I forced him to push too hard?

“I think our time together may have resulted in something.”

“What? Are you sick? What is it?”

He smiled and shuffled closer to me. We still sat in the dirt. “No, not sick, although that might come. I’m pregnant.”

My heart skipped and my breath caught in my throat, making me choke. “You’re… you’re pregnant? Are you sure?”